As a success-blogger, I normally have a great deal of clarity about what I need to be working on. I’m also really driven by a sense of purpose in helping others get unstuck and make an impact in their lives. There aren’t many times that I find myself at a loss for what to do next.
Nonetheless, I recently hit a dry spell. I felt entirely stuck and a little burnt out. It felt like I was in a pit, emotionally unempowered and unable to move forward. Due to this, I decided to sit down and write out a list of ways that I could get myself moving and build up some momentum again.
Here is what I came up with and I’m sharing it with you in the hopes that if you, too, are stuck it will make difference for you:
1. Get An Empowering Mindset
When we start to feel like we can’t move forward we often get down on ourselves. We begin to feel incapable and think we must be the cause of all the inaction. This puts us in a negative mindset that is self-reinforcing. To break out of that limiting mentality, try the substitution game. For every negative thought that comes to mind, remove it and replace it with a positive one.
For instance, instead of, “I just can’t figure this out—I’m so stupid,” remove and replace it with, “I’m ALWAYS supplied with a way through at just the right time.” Affirmations like this will keep you positive and put you back in the driver’s seat. Keep at this hard because it is relatively easy to do and you can gain traction quickly.
“Growth hacking is a mindset, and those who have it will reap incredible gains.” – Ryan Holiday
2. Do Some Housekeeping
When I’m really humming along in life, I’ve got no time for cleaning up files and putting things in order. This has to be done sometime and the time when you are stuck not doing anything else makes as good of sense as any.
More than that, however, I’ve also found the process of simplifying and organizing my notes to be very empowering. The very act of setting your mind on “cleaning things up” clarifies your mind. It’s an outward expression of something that changes your experience internally as well.
I’m of the opinion that if we need direction in our lives, we need to make room for it. In this way, we welcome that which we really need. By putting our work in order we prepare the way for new ideas and inspiration.
3. Find Some Quick Results To Encourage Yourself
No matter how stuck you are there is always something you can do that will bring about a measurable result. Even small victories help you feel like you are gaining ground. As you do this, keep these tips in mind:
- Set simple goals and breeze through them. Think of things you can accomplish in five-to-ten minutes. As you complete them you will gain a sense of momentum.
- Make this a visual activity. I like to write each of my tasks out and put a little box in front of them. Work to check each item off as quickly as you can. It should be fun so treat it as a game, marking complete as many as you can in an hour, for instance.
4. Get Back To Doing What You Love
To keep growing, I have to keep looking forward to the bigger picture in what I do. Right now I’m spending a lot of time preparing content for future books and courses, but that level of stretching has produced a little burnout. I’m always tunneling forward into territory that I’m not as familiar with so it saps my energy and mental resources.
It’s good to tackle these types of things so that I keep pushing myself. But when I begin to feel like I’m burning out, it’s good to step back into what I’m best at and most comfortable in…for me, that’s writing blog posts. It brings a refreshing sense of fun back into my life.
This gets a sense of positivity flowing again. We have to keep a deep feeling of joy with what we do. Jump-starting that by getting back into your element can get you on the road again.
“Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.” – Rumi
5. Work On Something New
Sometimes we just get bogged-down and burned-out with what we are working on. It becomes drudgery, but there is always something related that we might not have begun to work on yet. Maybe we didn’t feel ready or we were just too invested in other things to take the turn down that road. In times like this, pull those things out and start working on them.
For me, that recent thing I began to do was guest posting on Addicted2Success. It was something that I had always wanted to do because I believe in everything that they are doing, but I hadn’t gone down that path yet because I didn’t feel ready.
In my period of trying to get unstuck, however, it began to feel like the perfect time to venture into new territory. Now that I’ve had the opportunity to focus on this avenue I have renewed energy and have come closer to fulfilling my overall dream of being a successful blogger.
If you just aren’t getting anywhere in your normal routine, it could be the perfect time to break into something else you’ve been holding off on.
What have you done to break free when YOU are stuck in life? Comment below!
Image courtesy of Twenty20.com
When I get stuck I try to get out into nature and then move onto something new that sparks my creativity. I have to admit that I get so busy with everything I have going on that organizing and cleaning things up tend to take the back burner. But reading that in your suggestions struck a chord and I realized that when I do take a break and organize or clean I feel a ton lighter! 🙂 I just have to remind myself I guess!
Thank you for sharing, Victoria. Our inner and outer lives are connected in so many ways. When we organize the outside it tends to do so on the inside. When we have less clutter inside then we can begin to get clarity again. Grateful for your response.
Hi Aaron,
Thank you for sharing such a valuable and awesome article with us. I complete agree with all your point especially “Get Back To Doing What You Love”. I can relate this article to my life when I was stuck and was not sure what to do. I was in Job sector which I hated the most but I overcome with it and started my own venture. Now, I am doing what I love most.
Thanks again for writing and sharing this inspiring and informative article with us. Thanks!
Kalpana, thank you so much for sharing! It is encouraging to hear about others who have also been stuck but found a way through. None of these strategies are rocket science but we can get so overcome with frustration we don’t see them. I’m proud of you and keep checking back in often!
hey Aaron these life tips are off the hook, started doing this step by step guide a week back. You my friend know how to work miracles. These steps paired with some visualization videos on the law of attraction have really helped me get out of my rut.
Didi, that’s wonderful to hear and extremely encouraging to me. These were the exact steps I used and I’m really pleased to hear that they worked for you, too. We all get in a lull from time-to-time— we can expect it. But…that never has to discourage us because we can empower ourselves to get through it and come out better ahead. That outlook keeps us pushing forward with real energy to live our most powerful life. Thanks for commenting.
Acknowledging how we currently feel and why, is an utmost important first step to regaining your positive momentum. Personally, I like to spend one day out the week and self-reflect on my actions for the past week and analyze where I could have performed better, or what areas I need to improve in. A strong mindset can conquer any obstacle in its path as long as you have absolute faith in yourself and your beliefs.
Thank you, Ravi. A little self-analysis can go a long way to giving ourselves direction. The problem is, we seldom take even a minute out of our lives to do so. A perfect reminder, much appreciated.
What works for me too is stepping back from my mind and realizing that I am feeling a certain way and I can change it. Mindfulness helps in those situations.
Thank you, Christopher. Mindfulness is a perfect addition to the list. There is nothing like regaining focus by getting in the present. Your comments are appreciated.
True. another point is that if you feel stuck, dont get worried or depressed. Just have this understanding that there is something the universal forces are trying to tell you. Maybe you have to change your direction, friends, or strategy. Also, when you feel stuck remember that there is no timeline of where you have to be at any specific time/age.Nobody should tell you that you have to be doing a particular thing just because you have reached a particular age. Take life as it comes, and always try to do your best, and deeply analyse your strategies to see if you need to change them
That is a wonderful point, Isaac, that our stuck-ness can be there for a reason. I’m of the opinion that everything has a purpose and, you’re right, we don’t need to stress about it. In fact, the stress will often close us off to seeing the solutions when they come. Thank you for sharing, much appreciated.